Beyond the Brush & Floss- Unexpected Ways to Improve Your Gum Health

Oral health is as important as any other aspect of your health. People, at times, overlook the minor problems with their teeth or gums. This should not be done as it results in various complex issues in the future. 

In Chicago, you can find many dentists who provide such dental services where you can get treatment and also get to know if there are any other oral health problems. Gum health is essential as it can result in gum diseases that are not taken care of. You may notice bleeding, swelling in your gums, pimples on the gum line, etc. 

If you notice these symptoms, it is essential that you do not overlook them and get them checked by a professional dentist. It can be a sign of periodontitis. Thus, try to keep your gums healthy by maintaining good oral hygiene. 

While regular brushing and flossing play a crucial role in not only keeping your teeth healthy but also your gums, there are other ways through which you can ensure that your gums remain healthy. You can contact a periodontist in Chicago, IL, and get your dental checkup done. 

What are the different ways through which you can keep your gums healthy?

There are different habits that one can acquire to improve oral health; let us look at some of them: 

• Flossing on a regular basis:

There are many people who do not floss on a daily basis, but they should know that floss plays a vital role in keeping your teeth and gums healthy. If you do not floss, the food can get stuck between your teeth, and that can give way to bacteria to attack. 

They can accumulate and form plaque, which needs to be cleaned through brushing, or else it can get converted into tartar. Tartar is not easy to remove and also can lead to gum disease. 

• Rinse your mouth thoroughly: 

After brushing, many people wash their mouths. Oral hygiene practices, when combined with fluorine products, can make it more effective. There is toothpaste based on fluoride; there is also mouthwash like that, etc. However, make sure you are not using fluoride in excess, as it can lead to enamel erosion. 

When you wash your mouth after you are done brushing with fluoride, the fluoride goes away. In the same manner, when you eat your food and then rinse your mouth afterward, you wash away the harmful bacteria that can potentially form plaque. 

• Do not smoke:

There have been studies done that show people with smoking habits are at greater risk of developing gum diseases. It is because smoking makes the immune system weak. If you want to avoid or reduce the risk of getting gum disease, you should try and avoid smoking as much as possible.

• Maintain a healthy diet:

You should whatever you have is going to have an impact on your teeth. Make sure you eat healthily and avoid items that can destroy your gum health. There are various food items that one can incorporate into their diet; let us look at them:

• Fruits and vegetables are rich in fiber, which helps to keep your mouth clean of bacteria.
• Have various dairy products as they can increase saliva production and thereby help you avoid gum disease.
• Sugar-free chewing gum can also help increase the amount of saliva that your mouth produces.
• Black teas can also reduce the amount of bacteria in your mouth. 
• There are food items that naturally consist of fluoride, try consuming them to reduce the production of bacteria. 

Go for regular dental checkups!

It is essential that you get your teeth and gums checked by the dentist every once in a while. Even if you maintain good oral hygiene practices, you should still go for a dental checkup. There might be some other oral health issue that may not be apparent to you. The dentist can tell if such is the case.